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CHLOROPHYLL COLLECTIVE PROPOSAL FOR BURNING MAN 2007
According to CoolingMan, "Burning Man 2007 will be directly responsible for approximately 27,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions." While it is possible to address these emissions through carbon offsets, wouldn't it be better to keep them out of the air in the first place?
The Chlorophyll Collective proposes to build such means directly into the infrastructure of Black Rock City, based on a proven living technology that is truly green: algae. Our Collective offers to take all of the exhaust from any or all of Burning Man's primary generators, and capture the pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas and cause of global warming. We will use the natural capability of algae to transform this destructive waste into clean air, clean water, and a variety of useful products using only sunlight.
To do this, we will bubble the generator emissions through 350 vertical plastic tubes filled with water and algae, which capture the CO2 and convert it into oxygen, biodiesel, and compostable biomass (see photo). Measurements in our existing algae tubes indicate that they are capable of eating over 90% of the CO2 in exhaust. They eat many of the other pollutants as well, and the water captures smog-producing particles. In fact, algae are unique in their CO2 eating properties, because they thrive on concentrated CO2, which other plants can't handle. This means they can eat the exhaust before it gets into the atmosphere. This is in contrast to carbon offsets, which only deal with the pollutants after they have caused damage.
The generator exhaust will be routed through standard plumbers' pipe to the algae tubes after passing through a simple cooling device. The system will incorporate vacuum pumps to draw a free flow of exhaust from the generators, and will incorporate a fail-safe system to vent the exhaust if the pumps are ever interrupted.
We have calculated energy use water and air flow rates, reactor weights and have designed structural systems. We are prepared to provide technical specifications as necessary. A required materials list is attached.
We have also gathered a growing volunteer brigade to service our reactors by harvesting algae, adding growth media, and monitoring to ensure we are in fact meeting our goal of absorbing at least 90% of the CO2 emitted by the generators.
Education is an essential element of the Chlorophyll Collective's mission, as we aim to inspire and support the widespread use of this technology, not only around the playa but around the world. We will be holding demonstrations, seminars, and classes before, after, and throughout the event. Our science/educational area will incorporate a projection microscope, allowing participants to witness the algae in action while pondering thought-provoking facts, such as the following:
• Algae generate approximately 80% of the earth's oxygen.
• Algae were the only plants on the planet for 3/4 of Earth's existence.
• 8 square meters of healthy algae pond can generate enough oxygen for one person.
• 15,000 square miles of algae ponds could generate enough fuel for all the transportation needs of the U.S.
• Algae grow in every environment on Earth with sunlight and water, from boiling mineral springs to supersaturated saline ponds to the snows of Antarctica.
All technology developed by the Collective will be made freely available to the public on our wiki pages for distribution, comment, and modification, unencumbered by patents or trademarks, thereby creating an informational clearing house for the algae farmers of the world
Using our CO2 waste to fuel the natural oxygen-giving processes of algae, the Chlorophyll Collective is creating a natural global cooling method for Burning Man to eliminate carbon emissions while demonstrating the ultimate collaboration with one of the oldest organisms on earth.
According to CoolingMan, "Burning Man 2007 will be directly responsible for approximately 27,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions." While it is possible to address these emissions through carbon offsets, wouldn't it be better to keep them out of the air in the first place?
The Chlorophyll Collective proposes to build such means directly into the infrastructure of Black Rock City, based on a proven living technology that is truly green: algae. Our Collective offers to take all of the exhaust from any or all of Burning Man's primary generators, and capture the pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas and cause of global warming. We will use the natural capability of algae to transform this destructive waste into clean air, clean water, and a variety of useful products using only sunlight.
To do this, we will bubble the generator emissions through 350 vertical plastic tubes filled with water and algae, which capture the CO2 and convert it into oxygen, biodiesel, and compostable biomass (see photo). Measurements in our existing algae tubes indicate that they are capable of eating over 90% of the CO2 in exhaust. They eat many of the other pollutants as well, and the water captures smog-producing particles. In fact, algae are unique in their CO2 eating properties, because they thrive on concentrated CO2, which other plants can't handle. This means they can eat the exhaust before it gets into the atmosphere. This is in contrast to carbon offsets, which only deal with the pollutants after they have caused damage.
The generator exhaust will be routed through standard plumbers' pipe to the algae tubes after passing through a simple cooling device. The system will incorporate vacuum pumps to draw a free flow of exhaust from the generators, and will incorporate a fail-safe system to vent the exhaust if the pumps are ever interrupted.
We have calculated energy use water and air flow rates, reactor weights and have designed structural systems. We are prepared to provide technical specifications as necessary. A required materials list is attached.
We have also gathered a growing volunteer brigade to service our reactors by harvesting algae, adding growth media, and monitoring to ensure we are in fact meeting our goal of absorbing at least 90% of the CO2 emitted by the generators.
Education is an essential element of the Chlorophyll Collective's mission, as we aim to inspire and support the widespread use of this technology, not only around the playa but around the world. We will be holding demonstrations, seminars, and classes before, after, and throughout the event. Our science/educational area will incorporate a projection microscope, allowing participants to witness the algae in action while pondering thought-provoking facts, such as the following:
• Algae generate approximately 80% of the earth's oxygen.
• Algae were the only plants on the planet for 3/4 of Earth's existence.
• 8 square meters of healthy algae pond can generate enough oxygen for one person.
• 15,000 square miles of algae ponds could generate enough fuel for all the transportation needs of the U.S.
• Algae grow in every environment on Earth with sunlight and water, from boiling mineral springs to supersaturated saline ponds to the snows of Antarctica.
All technology developed by the Collective will be made freely available to the public on our wiki pages for distribution, comment, and modification, unencumbered by patents or trademarks, thereby creating an informational clearing house for the algae farmers of the world
Using our CO2 waste to fuel the natural oxygen-giving processes of algae, the Chlorophyll Collective is creating a natural global cooling method for Burning Man to eliminate carbon emissions while demonstrating the ultimate collaboration with one of the oldest organisms on earth.
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